Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in China
China: Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) was 712,020 millions in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Government expenditure on education, constant US$ in China, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in millions.
Analysis
China recorded 712,020 millions for government expenditure on education, constant us$ in 2023. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Over the whole period, government expenditure on education, constant us$ in China peaked at 712,020 millions in 2023 and was at its lowest, 3,621 millions, in 1971.
That places China 2nd out of 174 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in China, year by year
| Year | millions | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 3,621 millions | — |
| 1972 | 4,344 millions | +20.0% |
| 1973 | 4,815 millions | +10.9% |
| 1974 | 5,256 millions | +9.1% |
| 1975 | 5,543 millions | +5.5% |
| 1976 | 5,801 millions | +4.6% |
| 1977 | 6,010 millions | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 7,491 millions | +24.6% |
| 1979 | 8,838 millions | +18.0% |
| 1980 | 8,482 millions | -4.0% |
| 1981 | 9,088 millions | +7.1% |
| 1982 | 10,345 millions | +13.8% |
| 1983 | 11,694 millions | +13.0% |
| 1984 | 12,967 millions | +10.9% |
| 1985 | 14,780 millions | +14.0% |
| 1986 | 16,530 millions | +11.8% |
| 1987 | 16,150 millions | -2.3% |
| 1988 | 17,564 millions | +8.8% |
| 1992 | 22,259 millions | +26.7% |
| 1993 | 25,400 millions | +14.1% |
| 1994 | 34,382 millions | +35.4% |
| 1995 | 35,396 millions | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 39,151 millions | +10.6% |
| 1998 | 45,845 millions | +17.1% |
| 1999 | 50,505 millions | +10.2% |
| 2023 | 712,020 millions | +1309.8% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 712,020 millions is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,774 millions, 401.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
- China's 712,020 millions is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,596 millions, 446.1× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions) in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +1309.8% | 50,505 millions | 712,020 millions |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5,747 millions | 3,621 millions | 8,838 millions | 9 |
| 1980s | 13,067 millions | 8,482 millions | 17,564 millions | 9 |
| 1990s | 36,134 millions | 22,259 millions | 50,505 millions | 7 |
| 2020s | 712,020 millions | 712,020 millions | 712,020 millions | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
- 1 United States 1.30 million millions compare
- 3 Germany 237,742 millions compare
- 4 United Kingdom 161,592 millions compare
- 5 France 160,983 millions compare
More education data for China
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 93.37 (1997)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 93.32 (1997)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7.41 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 7,020 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 21.58 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 19.36 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 97.98 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 108.57 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.9587 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is government expenditure on education, constant us$ in China?
- Government expenditure on education, constant us$ in China was 712,020 millions in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 712,020 millions in 2023.
- What is the lowest government expenditure on education, constant us$ recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,621 millions in 1971.
- How does China rank for government expenditure on education, constant us$?
- China ranks 2nd out of 174 countries with data for 2023.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Government expenditure on education, constant US$ (millions). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release